Switch.



PATENTBD MAR. 19, 1907.

SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED APIL 24, 1906. BENBWED PEB. 23, 1907.

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UNITED sTATEs PATENT oEEIoE.

OSCAR S. GAGE, OF TECUMSEI-I, OKLAHOMA TERRITORY.

SWITCH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented March 19, 1907.

Application tiled April 24, 1906. Renewed February 23,1907. Serial No.358.978.

monly called a I switch-point, is fitted so as to be thrown laterally todirect a car from one track to another.

The object of my invention is to provide an improved construction ofthis type of switch which may be readily operated by the motorman of acar without requiring his stopping the movement of the car or thehandling of any separate rod'.

In devices of this character as heretofore employed it has usually beennecessary for something to be inserted in the groove ofthe track at oneside or the other of the switchpoint so as to enable the switch-point tobe thrown.

The especial object of my present invention is to provide means wherebya projection from the switch-point will be normally in position to beengaged by a shifting device carried by the car, but which projectionmay be readily displaced by the wheel of the car or any other vehiclepassing over it', and will be automatically raised to its normal andproper position as soon as such wheel has passed.

To these ends my invention consists in the construction and combinationof parts substantially as hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawing, Figure lv platform of said car beingprovided with a shaft or plunger 11, having a shoe 12 at its lower end,which plunger and shoe may be depressed by the motorman and turned intoposition so as to engage the projections of the switch-point on one sideor the other thereof,

yas hereinafter described, to shift said switchpoint laterally.

The switch-point 13 is represented in Figs. 2 and 3 as pivotallysupported at 14 and provided at a point somewhat back of the free endthereof with a verticalhole 15. A stud 16, of substantially equaldiameter throughout its length, is fitted to slide in the hole or recess15 and is adapted to normally project, as shownin Figs. 1 and 3, and tobe depressed so that the upper end of the stud will not pro-l ject abovethe upper surface of the switch.

As a means for yieldingly holding said stud with its upper endprojecting, as shown, I provide a lever 17, pivoted at 18 in a chamberor recess in the under side of the switch, said lever being pivotallyconnected at 19 with the lower end of the stud 16. The other end of thelever is considerably enlarged or otherwise weighted, as at 20, so thatthe said lever will normally rest in the position shown in Fig. 3, butmay oscillate when the stud 16 is depressed by the wheel of a car orotherwise, and will then return the stud 16 to its normal position whenfree.

As indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 2, the portion of the chamber orrecess in the switch adjacent the hole 15 is quite narrow* that is, itis only of a sufficient width to permit the narrow end of the lever towork freely vertically therein. The diameter of the hole 15 is greaterthan the width of the portion 21 of the recess, and therefore groovesare formed in the sides of said recess portion 21, which accommodate andguide the stud 16. and prevent the said stud from binding in itsvertical movements, thereby causing the recess and hole to correspond indiameter at the point where the stud is located. This formation of thehole 15 and the guides is readily accomplished, it being necessary onlyto drill an opening ventirely through the switch. By this constructionthat portion of the stud which is below the surface of the switch is notonly guided throughout its entire length, but the presence of the stud(practically filling the holel and the recess at this point) formssubstantially a solid switch-point at the place Where owing to theformation of the guides the walls of the recess are of the leastthickness. It will be obvious, therefore, that liability of a breakingout of the hole under lateral strain ofthat portion oi' the stud abovethe surface of the switch and the crushing of the sides of the switch atthe normally weakened point IOC IOS

IIO

' by the flange of the wheel during the passage of a ear is practicallyeliminated.

It will now be understood that when a ear equipped with a shifting-shoe,such as indicated at 12, approaches the switch and the shoe is depressedand turned by the motorman so that it will engage one side or the otherof the stud 16 the continued movement of the car will throw the switchbefore the wheels of the car have reached it, and when said wheels reachthe stud 16 the latter will be linstantly depressed and will then bereturned to normally projecting position after'the wheels pass.

Having now described my invention, I claim- 1. A pivoted switch having avertical guideway, a stud fitted to slide in said guideway, said studbeing of substantially equal diameter throughout its length, and meansfor yieldingly holding said stud with its upper end projecting above theupper surface of the switch.

2. A pivoted switch having a recess or chamber in its under side andformed with a vertical 'hole at a point between its pivot and itsree'end, a stud movable in said hole and extending into said recess, saidstudv being of substantially equal diameter throughout its length andadapted to .normally project above the surface et the switch, the recessin the switch being enlarged to correspond with the diameter of the holeand form a continuation thereel, and means located in the recess of theswitch and connected with said stud to yieldingly h old the same raised.

3. A pivoted switch having a recess or chamber in its under side and'f'oinled with a vertical hole at a point between its pivot and freeend, said hole leading into said recess, the latter having its wallsformed to provide a continuation of the hole from the top to the bottomof the switch, a stud itted to slide in said hole, and a weighted leverpivotally supported in the recess of' the switch and pivotallyconnected. with the lower end oi said stud, the weight of said leverbeing adapted to normally hold the stud raised.

ln testimony whereof l have afliXed in v signature in presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

OSCAR S. GAGE.

Vitnesses I H. ARRINGTON, JOHN W. ARRING'ION.

